Putting Down Wood Floors

My dad likes fixing/renovating our house. As our first of ??? spring projects, we decided we would put a wood floor in the "den." We're replacing old, stained, blue carpet with real oak wood.

We yanked up the carpet, and there was a layer of yellow foam underneath. It had dust all over it. After nine years, the grime had really built up.

Then we pulled up the foam, and underneath was a pretty (at least I thought it so) terrazzo floor. In some places, however, you could hardly see the terrazzo, because if I had thought that the foam was bad, this...

Then the cleaning crew came in to put everything to rights. We probably swept up a good three, maybe five cups of dirt.

Putting down a wood floor takes a lot more work than you would think. There are two layers, first the clear foam stuff, then the wood.

The carpet could be viewed as your life. It looks fine, for the most part. Everyone can see it, so you try to keep it nice.

Your friends and family see the layer underneath that. It's dirty. But it's not that bad.

You and God are the only ones who can see the bottom layer. The dirt and grime, the sin that is lodged there. The stuff that nobody else could even guess at. It could be really pretty, but the dirt is covering the good part up.

But God can clean you out. It's not an easy job, but He can do it. After sweeping everything clean, He'll give you new protection- The Holy Spirit- to keep the bad things from finding their way in again.

And to help you remember you're His and you are forgiven- no hard feelings- he gives you a new polished, un-scuffed look. And unlike the flimsy un-stable carpet, you now have a new, solid foundation. One that will never let you down.

Well, I'm documenting the big project, and it looks like we're entering a new phase (we're not quite done yet). I have to go!

Tori